@HELP Need to use my Yamaha to tow a stranded boat

[Quad]

@Quad Sounds like you have a side business to start. Just get a card swiper for your phone and charge them on the water.

U.S. Tow would take a nice chunk out of people. I have their unlimited subscription for unlimited towing for what they charge is a no brainer.

It's crossed my mind... i can see a massive chunk of the lake from my desk and have observed a couple dozen breakdowns, capsizes, man overboard situations this season. The tows mentioned were the only ones I've participated in this year, but I've hoofed it out onto the water in a canoe many times this year to rescue inexperienced folks in trouble in human-powered craft.

 

[Julian]

@Quad Sounds like you have a side business to start. Just get a card swiper for your phone and charge them on the water.

U.S. Tow would take a nice chunk out of people. I have their unlimited subscription for unlimited towing for what they charge is a no brainer.

Was talking to the Tow Boat US guy at our marina and they charge either $150 or $250 (cant remember which) as a minimum.

@drewkaree looks like that boat is very close to yours.....did you lengthen the rope to tow them? You don't want the towed boat too close to yours as you never know when you might have to stop and maneuver.

I've also read stories about boats being towed by houseboats sinking because their tow line was too short. A short tow line can actually hold down the bow of the boat and cause it to swamp. Apparently this happens with house boats towing smaller boats on bigger lakes.

Some other good tips (wear PFDs in both boats-especially when towing drunks!!!):

TOWING THE LINE: NINE TIPS FOR TOWING

TOWING THE LINE NINE TIPS FOR TOWING

www.discoverboating.com

.

Towing a Boat on the Water - boats.com

There's nothing worse than breaking down in the middle of open water—luckily, if you can flag down a fellow boater, they may be able to give you a tow. Here's how...

www.boats.com

 

[Peelz]

This is amazing

it was quite hilarious. Homeboy chillin in the bow havin some wine. not kidding. Got to the ramp. he goes to fetch his brand new Tahoe.. when he comes back I show him the switch. "oh you saved me twice today, I was counting the dollars" LOL

i just used the tow hook. figured it would bend before snapping the fiberglass. theres a 12"x6" backer board behind it for support.

 

[drewkaree]

@drewkaree looks like that boat is very close to yours.....did you lengthen the rope to tow them? You don't want the towed boat too close to yours as you never know when you might have to stop and maneuver.

It was, indeed, very close. I had no rope on my boat longer than 15' (just dock lines), and that was their tubing rope. In the pic, I had just started back down the river, and I had to cross the river (quite busy, this was when we were first "released" from lockdown in our state and EVERYONE was on the river), so I was staying close to the side to see how it was. Shortly after this pic was taken, I realized what a non-help they were, as you can see the PILE of rope on the bow of their boat. I did stop and readjust their rope to give more room between the boats, and when I had much more distance between us, I proceeded to cross the river as slow as I could, heading upstream since the current would help to keep them off the end of my boat.

The reason it took me half an hour is precisely due to how close they were with the ropes available. Similar to biff, they wanted me to "bring them around to the other side where "the gas thingy is" (their words). I had my buddy's kid ask me why we "had" to stop - had a nice conversation with a 23-year-old "kid" as to why sometimes you do things, even if it won't get you any Facebook likes. It's just the right thing to do, but there IS a limit to generosity, such as not towing their boat right into their slip or bringing them around to the gas side.

I've also read stories about boats being towed by houseboats sinking because their tow line was too short. A short tow line can actually hold down the bow of the boat and cause it to swamp. Apparently this happens with house boats towing smaller boats on bigger lakes.

Some other good tips (wear PFDs in both boats-especially when towing drunks!!!):

TOWING THE LINE: NINE TIPS FOR TOWING

TOWING THE LINE NINE TIPS FOR TOWING

www.discoverboating.com

.

Towing a Boat on the Water - boats.com

There's nothing worse than breaking down in the middle of open water—luckily, if you can flag down a fellow boater, they may be able to give you a tow. Here's how...

www.boats.com

Those are awesome tips/reminders, thanks for the heads up!

 

[Julian]

It was, indeed, very close. I had no rope on my boat longer than 15' (just dock lines), and that was their tubing rope. In the pic, I had just started back down the river, and I had to cross the river (quite busy, this was when we were first "released" from lockdown in our state and EVERYONE was on the river), so I was staying close to the side to see how it was. Shortly after this pic was taken, I realized what a non-help they were, as you can see the PILE of rope on the bow of their boat. I did stop and readjust their rope to give more room between the boats, and when I had much more distance between us, I proceeded to cross the river as slow as I could, heading upstream since the current would help to keep them off the end of my boat.

The reason it took me half an hour is precisely due to how close they were with the ropes available. Similar to biff, they wanted me to "bring them around to the other side where "the gas thingy is" (their words). I had my buddy's kid ask me why we "had" to stop - had a nice conversation with a 23-year-old "kid" as to why sometimes you do things, even if it won't get you any Facebook likes. It's just the right thing to do, but there IS a limit to generosity, such as not towing their boat right into their slip or bringing them around to the gas side.



Those are awesome tips/reminders, thanks for the heads up!

Karma will pay you back some day!

I learned a lot myself through my researching in the links I added. If I were in your situation with such a group, now that I've read the link about what one should do, I would probably take some perverse joy in making them all put on life jackets!

 

[Matt Phillips]

A word of caution. The Boaters code says to stop and render assistance up until the point you start endangering your boat or crew. Helping a buddy is one thing, but be careful helping a stranger. Once you tie a line onto them, you're responsible for them.

We had a situation last season where this boat was trying to flag down help. We went over and their rental died (in an area with no cell coverage). I called up the tow service on the VHF who gladly came over and helped tow them (the 15 miles) back to their rental dock.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Once you tie a line onto them, you're responsible for them.

That is the rub right there. It happens. You do something nice for someone and help them and you end up with liability, a lawsuit or other issues. When I assist people that I don't know I always keep that in the back of my mind when making decisions on how far I am willing to participate.

 

[Speedling]

I have a hard time towing boats and steering around the docks. No outdrive means we get pulled rather than pull them.
Yes i have tv's, yes i can handle my boat.

 

[tdonoughue]

Absolutely correct on the liability point. You want to help people, but you can't endanger your craft or crew in the process. There are still lots of ways to help without tying up to a vessel: calling for help, lending tools, giving knowledge... One way you can mitigate if you do chose to tie up is to educate on towing technique and be prepared.

@Julian is absolutely correct (as always) about towing distance. But another consideration: you also have a choice to either tow from the aft or to put your boat along side the disabled craft and 'tow' it with spring lines between the two. That gives you better control (as in @Speedling 's situation, around docks, etc.). Downside is that it takes longer to hook up and you then have a more difficult time if you need to cut the other boat free in an emergency situation (so if the other craft were taking on water, for example, you would definitely not want to tow along side). If you are going to need fine control of the towed craft, consider spring lines and fenders, with your craft just a bit aft of theirs.

 

[haknslash]

I don’t advise to tow from the cleat. Probably the weakest place you could tow. Also don’t advise to tow while holding a line sitting on the transom. Good way to get poisoning.

 

[Speedling]

Absolutely correct on the liability point. You want to help people, but you can't endanger your craft or crew in the process. There are still lots of ways to help without tying up to a vessel: calling for help, lending tools, giving knowledge... One way you can mitigate if you do chose to tie up is to educate on towing technique and be prepared.

@Julian is absolutely correct (as always) about towing distance. But another consideration: you also have a choice to either tow from the aft or to put your boat along side the disabled craft and 'tow' it with spring lines between the two. That gives you better control (as in @Speedling 's situation, around docks, etc.). Downside is that it takes longer to hook up and you then have a more difficult time if you need to cut the other boat free in an emergency situation (so if the other craft were taking on water, for example, you would definitely not want to tow along side). If you are going to need fine control of the towed craft, consider spring lines and fenders, with your craft just a bit aft of theirs.

Did the alongside method once. Horrid.

 

[RyanTexas]

I got towed in with TowBoatUS. They attached my boat to their starboard side and slowly drove to the dock.

 

[tdonoughue]

Did the alongside method once. Horrid.

Can you elaborate? I did it once as well, but it was a smaller craft. No particular issues, but steering is very different...

What was your experience? Would love to learn from it.

 

[Speedling]

Can you elaborate? I did it once as well, but it was a smaller craft. No particular issues, but steering is very different...

What was your experience? Would love to learn from it.

Well with this paticular boat i wasn't able to maneuver around. His boat was directing me instead of me directing him. Outdrive was too much to overcome.
Best method for short runs has been my wife holding the rope(we keep a few ropes that are 75-100') and we no wake speeds towards dock. We can then use momentum like a tuber and bring them to the dock pretty precise, shortening up the rope when close.
Longer hauls go from tie down through the towed boats front hook point and back to my other tie down.
This allows the towed boat to slide back and forth a bit in the line so it just centers itself behind you. You can get more speed this way. However, you need some serious knots on either side to hold.

 

[tdonoughue]

That makes sense. Thanks for that. Excellent input. I guess on an i/o or outboard you could trim up to help, but anything with a fixed keel or rudder I can see where that would be an issue. Like I said, when I did it it was with a much smaller craft than mine.

I guess size does matter...